ML120713401

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Continuing at small youth baseball field on south side of ball fields, not far from Nature Center, at the top (up a little hill). A sign at this tiny little field reads: “Tecolote Youth Baseball Shetland Division.” Bird goes to ground in the outfield grass, or to the dirt behind bleachers, then back up into adjacent sycamores to preen and rest. I believe must be same bird Larry Edwards reported at FRNC Sept. 13. It is doing well, appears healthy. (The bird looks a lot like the Long-tailed or Eastern, except they have a yellow nape...some info on those.) “The long-tailed Paradise Whydah or Eastern Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) is a small brown sparrow-like bird of Eastern Africa, from eastern South Sudan to southern Angola. During the breeding season the male moults into breeding plumage...Males and females are almost indistinguishable outside of the breeding season. It is a brood parasite to the green-winged pytilia. Male long-tailed paradise Whydahs imitate the song of the male green-winged pytilia. The Whydah chicks are larger and louder than the host chicks, so the foster parents will give them more attention than their own chicks. Although difficult to breed in captivity because of their brood parasitic nature, these finches, particularly the males, are sold as pets in the United States and other countries.” (Source: http://www.thefinchfarm.com/paradise-whydah/)

Technical information

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